“‘Dear Emma,’ I said, lifting my head to the rosy face at my shoulder, in doing which I touched her soft cheek, ‘I think I never before heard you say an unkind thing, except when your temper is blazing, which I do not count against you. I had rather, I think, have kept my ideal.’
“‘Was there ever such an unreasonable man, to begrudge poor Miss Knight her good fortune?’
“‘What good fortune?’
“‘Five thousand golden guineas. The sweep has left her his fortune, which, with what she has, will make her between seven and eight thousand pounds.’
“‘I see.’
“‘And she has, I understand, for some time been receiving advances from Captain Gould, of the Audacious, which she is now in a position to gratify.’
“‘Miss Knight must be over fifty,’ I said, half to myself.
“‘Who is unkind now?’ asked Emma.
“‘I unkind? I was only thinking Gould is a young man.’
“Emma was a diplomatist. She said nothing, so I had to say something, and asked: ‘And I am to be the Ambassador who conveys——?’